Are you an iPad photographer and proud of it? [Poll]

It's a discussion we've had many, many times before; using your iPad – or any other tablet for that matter – as a camera. Some love it, some hate it, some ridicule it and others just don't care, but it's a subject most of us have an opinion on. We always say that the best camera you have is the one you have with you, and increasingly folks are carrying their iPads with them everywhere they go. So, are you an iPad photographer, and proud of it?

The camera on the new iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display produces pretty good results in some situations. I'm still in the camp of avoiding using it at all costs – despite what the picture above may indicate! – for two main reasons. Firstly, I never travel without my iPhone, and so I would much rather take pictures with that. And secondly, I personally find it frustrating when at public events people in front of me hold up an iPad to take pictures obscuring my view. I'd hate to be "that guy" to someone else.

But it is still pretty staggering to see how many people in different situations are using an iPad to take a picture. I recently visited New York City, and the amount of tourists in Times Square holding iPads at arms length taking photos and even selfies in such a massively busy location was pretty high. As it becomes more and more a common occurance, does any social faux pas begin to fade away?

So, what about you guys? Regular iPad photographers? Avoid it at all costs? Or perhaps somewhere in between. Drop a vote in the poll up top, and jump into the comments with your thoughts on the subject!

The best camera is the one you have when you need one. My experience as a photographer and a photo finisher in the pre-digital age taught me that people are more interested in capturing the memory than in quality. As I age, I have also learned that for people with limited vision ability the iPad camera is very handy.

I did when my iPad's camera was better/more enjoyable to use than my phone's camera. But once I got my iPhone there was no need. Except, like mentioned above, round the house or out and about and messing around (calling someone over to 'have a look at this' then snap a shot with the front facer, type idea).

Using the iPad camera app doesn't even cross my mind. In fact, this article reminded me that there is actually a camera on it. I use my iPhone camera for photo evidence at work and it beats our digital camera hands down.

My kids use the ipad camera a lot more than I do. They love the photo booth app. I'll use it if I don't have my iphone nearby, but I greatly prefer my iphone's camera. The quality of the pictures is so much better on the iphone.

I'm with ya dalyapp. I'm a part time photographer and own an audio/video production business. To me, it's actually MORE annoying to see the guy/gal with more money than photography skills shooting with a $3,500 body and $2,500 piece of glass....with the little 'green' (auto) mode selected;) ....than it is to see the hobbyist hold an iPad up for a quick snapshot. We use DSLRs. We use RED cams and Panasonic handhelds along with GoPro for motion. DSLRs specifically for still shots, along with iPhones of small point and shoot cams for discreet shots.
That said, if I'm somewhere with my 'mini' or regular iPad and don't have the phone or another camera handy....the iPad will definitely take a decent shot if there is light and you aren't in situations that exceed their abilities.
Scanning receipts, documents, payments etc....we use the iPads often in those situations, including contract extensions and signatures.

I've taken a few pictures here and there with it. They're mostly throwaway shots of the kids when they're doing something cute. Taking photos with the tablet is a cumbersome process but if it's the only camera you have, you know what they say.

Yeah, I could wear clothes that are 3 sizes too big... The basic need could still be met, but...
I use the iPad in down time situations. My "portable" for convenience sake is my phone because it stows away so well. ... Much better than a much larger tablet.
I can understand taking photos with a tablet after which you'd edit the photo with the larger screen space, but... Meh... I still only rarely use the iPad for photography.
It's just not as spontaneous as me trusty iPhone.

I don't feel the difference between people using iPad or using professional DLSR camera in term of disturb others. They are the same. Someday, people will get used to it and it will not disturb anyone anymore.

I haven't used iPad for pictures because I use my phone and the only time I have my iPad out of the house is for reading in the car and it doesn't leave the car. I feel strange when I carry it in public still.

If anyone drops $400 + for a tablet and it has a camera, and if they want to shoot pictures with it, shouldn't they be able to? Now I don't use my iPad air or my prior 3rd gen for pictures but the camera is there for a reason, so I say hold your iPad high and proud if that's what you want to do with it.

I take pictures of marker boards and presentation slides when using Evernote. I feel pretty ridiculous doing it but it's a good use of the iPad's camera.

Last month I saw a woman on the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls using her iPad to take pictures as we were pelted with spray from the falls. That was the epitome of ridiculous use of the iPad camera.

I have used my iphone and ipad mini to take pics.i find at times I rather use the mini ipad over the iPhone . At times my hands shake with the mini I can use two hands to hold it steady and not get part of my hand in the picture or a blurry picture.

I don't think it matters which camera you use. Which ever is most convenient at the time is what I think. I am in a graduate program and I use my iPad to take pictures of presentations and documents and do scans all the time.

I think Apple intends it as more for FaceTime calls, when you want to show what you are seeing.

But the best camera is the one you always have with you. It doesn't matter how awkward you look when you are using an iPad and want to capture that specific moment. It's sill better missing the moment.

Used my iPad to take photos extensively when I was overseas with my pupils on an exchange programme. I was tasked with updating my school blog, and with the iPad, this was as easy as taking photos and uploading them straight to the wordpress app.

Why not use my smartphone? Battery life. The iPad has more than enough juice to fuel a day's worth of aggressive photography and wireless internet use (in the form of uploading), plus whatever else you may need to use it for (web browsing, correspondence via email etc). I tried with my iPhone, and the battery was dead by noon. I had an external power pack on me, but with the tablet, you don't need to stop to recharge.

Since I use a back cover that snaps onto the smart cover it's very awkward to take pictures with the iPad for me. But I can see the use case wherein you use it to take video capture because of the larger view screen.

The best camera is the camera you have with you. If you need to take a photo then just use it. In addition, the larger screen is a plus for recording video and also a plus for those with visual problems.

I did not fit the poll. I use it all the time to take pictures/scan documents. There are many doc scanner apps. I like Readdle, but also use evernote camera function for recipes. The first camera in the iPad was not that great, even for documents, but now, it is great for that.

I don't think most people would miss the rear camera on the iPad Air if it wasn't there. The front camera is different. In fact, the front camera should be the full quality one. It is handy to sometimes flip round in a FaceTime call I suppose but that's about it.

People like the large screens for taking pictures, which makes sense. However, using them in a crowd seems to be the most important drawback, because they disrupt the view of others--very obtrusive, which is ironic, given that their unobtrusive nature compared to a laptop had made them very popular for other uses, including for speakers notes and as ereaders.

You have camped your space at Walt Disney World for the perfect view of the fireworks. Then just as the show commences some lovely person pulls out an iPad and holds it abouve there head....yes I voted stop this ridiculous practice.

I occasionally use my iPad to take pictures if it's in my hands when my kids or pets do something I want to take a pic of right them. Otherwise it's nice for FaceTime and the kids playing with PhotoBooth. I typically use my 5S when I'm planning on taking pictures. I will say my Mother in Law uses the camera in the Mini all the time to take almost all of her pictures. She has a flip phone with a really crappy camera so the iPad gives her the best shots she can get and the easiest way to share them.

I just did a blog post on this same thing----I avoid it, think it is a bit silly and distracting to those around and kind of chuckle when I see folks doing it in public. :-) But I guess if it is the only camera you have it works

The iPhone 5s camera is so improved that it puts to shame anything taken with an iPad. I like using my iPad camera with my Scanner Pro app because it seems easier to take the A4 shot. However really don't take other photos as I usually have my iPhone to hand. If I was using my iPad and it was more convenient, I wouldn't have any issue using it to take a photo - but then I don't care what anyone else thinks!!

Personally I don't carry my iPad around with me and if I did I probably have my phone. The iPad is too awkward for taking pictures, even the mini. I'm always amazed where I see people using the iPad as a camera- amusement parks especially.

Only when it's the only camera I have with me and I really need to get the picture. (I personally don't have an iPad but sometimes I borrow my sisters') Haha, I'm afraid to the 200 who proudly answered yes to the poll, the others might hunt you down and who knows what they're going to do.

Hahah @ home, yes. I remember being irritated in Epcot a year or so ago when all these folks were taking photos w/ their iPads on a ride and people were so annoyed. I wouldn't take my iPad to a theme park.

I didn't have any other option at a conference I went to last year. My phone battery was low so I used the iPad to take pictures and even video when it was needed. It wasn't what I would call ergonomic, but I made do.

I don't, but if someone else does, that's their perogative i suppose. If in a crowd, I'd be worried someone would bump me, even by accident, and i'd drop my iPad, or worse, someone could easily grab it and run away in no time.

I'm starting to take more photos, but until the iPad comes with a flash, it will always fall short as the first device I grab. Isn't there a Kickstarter project that offers a third-party flash product, and does it work with the iPad?

Use what you have at the time. I remember when the first phones with cameras came out and people "looked silly" taking a picture with a phone. In time it will become so normal that people won't give it a 2nd thought.